Guitar legend Slash will give 20 unsigned bands a boost by offering them support slots on his latest tour.

The former Guns N' Roses star kicked off a series of North American shows in Baltimore, Maryland on Thursday and he has teamed up with U.S. chain Guitar Center to give a number of aspiring groups the chance to join him on the road.

Bands can submit their music for consideration and the winners, to be personally selected by Slash, will open for the rocker at the tour stop closest to their hometown.

Slash tells The Pulse Of Radio, "Right now, for kids starting a band and all that, it's like the Wild West out there. There's no set path. There's a lot of great opportunities, there's a lot of different avenues that are available to you now that weren't available back in the day, but they're all hit or miss. You know, you've just got to take your chances."

Motley Crue and Kiss have both been involved in the scheme in previous years.